Liver Cancer
Liver Cancer Stages
An important prognostic predictor for any type of cancer is the clinicopathologic
stage. A clinicopathologic stage describes the cancer developmental phase,
and is established according to several criteria: (1) the tumor size,
(2) the cancer location (if the cancer is present in one or both lobes
of the liver), (3) the cancer extent (this last criteria is divided in
two: if the cancer grew into or around the blood vessels and if the cancer
had spread to the adjacent lymph nodes or organs).
There are four stages of liver cancer:
STAGE II: Localized and Possible resection
In this stage, the cancer is present in one or more locations but did
not spread to the adjacent lymph nodes or blood vessels. There are two
situations that can occur:
- A single tumor measuring either around 2 cm or less, or more than 2
cm is present .
- Few tumors measuring 2 cm or less are present, but they are all confined
to one liver lobe.
STAGE III: Advanced
This stage is divided in two sub-stages:
Stage III A: In this stage, the cancer has not spread to other
organs or lymph nodes. However, there are two situations that can occur:
- A single tumor larger than 2 cm is present and the blood vessels around
the tumor are affected.
- There are a few tumors measuring either around 2 cm or less, or more
than 2 cm are present in the same liver lobe, and the adjacent blood
vessels might be affected.
Stage III B: In this stage, the tumors can have any size, the
blood vessels may or may not be affected, and the cancer has spread
to the adjacent lymph nodes without affecting other organs.
STAGE IV: Disseminated (diffused)
This stage is divided in two sub-stages:
- Stage IVA: In this stage, the cancer is present in more than
one liver lobes, it may have spread to adjacent lymph nodes, organs
(but not the gallbladder) and structures (like peritoneum), and it grew
into or around the main blood vessels (portal vein and hepatic artery).
- Stage IVB: In this stage, the cancer has spread to distal
(situated farthest from origin point) organs and lymph nodes.
Article by Alina Morrow, MS
Medical Writer
OmniMedicalSearch.com
Page Covers: What are the stages of liver cancer?
Sources:
American Cancer Society, Detailed Guide: Liver Cancer, March 2009
American Cancer Society, Overview: Liver Cancer, April 2009
Healthfinder.gov, Laurie LaRusso MS. ELS, Liver Cancer, March 2009
Liver Cancer Treatment, Diagnosing Liver Cancer, 2006
Liver Cancer Treatment, Liver Cancer Treatment & Ongoing Care,
2006
Liver Cancer Treatment, Understanding Liver Cancer, 2007
University of Maryland Marlene and Steward, Greenebaum Cancer Center,
Liver Cancer, 2008
National Cancer Institute, What You Need To Know About Liver Cancer,
September 2005
National Cancer Institute, Adult Primary Liver Cancer (PDQ®): Treatment,
January 2005
Cancerbackup, Primary liver cancer, March 2006
MedicineNet.com, Liver cancer, April 2008
Liver Cancer Network, Diagnosis, 2008
Cancer Research Uk, The stages of primary liver cancer, March 2009
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